When we think about school camps, we usually picture the big daytime thrills, like flying through the air on a giant swing, paddling a canoe across a lake, or conquering a vertical climbing wall. And, while school camp daytime activities are definitely an exciting part of the adventure, there is a whole other world of magic that happens once the sun goes down.
We’re talking about evening activities, which can be just as exciting as all the daytime adventures. In fact, they are often the secret sauce that turns a good school camp into a fantastic one.
Let’s have a look at some of the reasons why the fun shouldn’t stop at sunset and how a 24-hour program delivers the full spectrum of benefits of school camp activities.
The benefits of school camp evening activities
While the daytime is full of thrills and physical challenges, like canoeing, the period between dinner and lights out is where some serious developmental growth happens. We often think of the evening as downtime, but in the world of outdoor education, it can actually be prime time!
By keeping a structured program running from sunrise to sunset and beyond, you can ensure every moment is an opportunity for growth. From building social intelligence to getting that first taste of independence, here are eight reasons why the evening program is the secret ingredient to a successful camp.
Breaking down barriers
During the day, kids are often more focused on the task at hand, hitting the target in archery or staying balanced on the low ropes. These are individual or small-group challenges. But when the sun sets and the formal activity sessions end, the social dynamic shifts to something a little more group-oriented.
Evening activities like discos , movie nights, or photo challenges provide a more relaxed environment where students can really let their hair down. This is where the real bonding happens between the kids. Away from the physical pressure of the daytime challenges, kids who are quieter or less outdoorsy often find their spark.
Maybe the student who struggled on the climbing wall is a secret karaoke superstar, or the shyest girl in the year level is a trivia mastermind. Evening activities allow students to see each other in a different light, not just the sporty or the quiet kid.
Reflection and the emotional reset
After a busy day of school camp activities, kids’ brains are buzzing with adrenaline and a million new inputs. They’ve faced fears, worked in teams, and pushed their physical limits. Without a period of reflection, these moments can become a blur, with not much being absorbed or learned.
The evening program is perfect for an emotional reset and some good old internal reflection. Whether it’s a quiet moment around a crackling campfire or a group discussion during a starlit walk, these moments help students process their wins and their losses.
Reflection is a core component of experiential education. It’s the process of turning an experience into a lesson. These moments of reflection might help a student realise, “I was terrified of that abseiling tower, but I did it anyway. If I can do that, maybe I can handle that big speech I have next week.” This reflection ensures that the benefits of school camp activities stay with them long after they’ve returned home.
Building trust between students and teachers
One of the most underrated benefits of school camp activities is the way they humanise teachers in the eyes of their students. In the classroom, the relationship is more formal and hierarchical. In the evening, during a campfire singalong or a teachers vs. students trivia night, that barrier fades away.
When a student sees their teacher struggling to get through a funny skit, wearing a silly costume for a theme night, or even just sitting on a log roasting a marshmallow, it builds a sense of trust. It shows students that their teachers are real people who also enjoy downtime and a bit of fun.
Creating lifelong memories
Shared experiences, especially those that involve laughter, can go a long way toward building group cohesion. This is often referred to as collective effervescence. Here is a study that shows the outcomes of collective effervescence during group activities.
When a class of kids are all laughing at the same joke or cheering for the same team during an evening game, their brains release oxytocin. Often called the “bonding hormone,” oxytocin lowers social anxiety, making it easier for kids to build trust.
For students at primary school camps, the evening program helps them feel safe and cosy in a new environment away from home. For those at secondary school camps, it’s a chance to share a laugh with their peers in a way that feels authentic rather than forced. These shared memories become the stories that kids will be telling for years to come.
The key to a good night’s sleep
Let’s be real, kids have a lot of energy! Even after a full day of hiking and climbing, that second wind often hits right around dinner time. If you don’t provide a structured outlet for that energy, it usually manifests as cabin chaos that lasts well into the night.
A structured evening program is the perfect way to channel that energy into something positive. High-energy games like capture the flag, ambush, or a themed scavenger hunt keep the momentum going without letting it turn into unregulated noise.
By providing a fun, organised outlet for their remaining energy, you can ensure that when lights out comes around, they are ready for a good night’s sleep, setting them up for another day of fun activities.
A lesson in independence
While daytime activities offer their own lessons in independence, the time between evening activities and sleep is a great way to build personal responsibility. This is where kids get the opportunity to learn what it’s like to be a grown-up in some ways.
Managing their own shower schedule, finding their pyjamas in a suitcase they packed themselves, organising their gear for the next day, and respecting the shared space of a cabin are all part of the lessons they will learn.
At primary school camps, this is often the biggest hurdle and the most significant victory. Successfully navigating a nighttime routine without the safety net of parents is a substantial boost to their self-reliance.
Developing students’ soft skills
We have touched on how daytime school camp activities focus more on physical activities, while, on the other hand, evening activities tend to focus on activities that encourage creativity, communication, and collaboration.
Think about a photo challenge, for example. To succeed, students have to strategise , negotiate with their peers, and execute on the challenges. They are developing life skills like public speaking, problem-solving and emotional regulation.
At secondary school camps, these evening sessions often involve leadership roles in which older students help organise younger students, providing a safe space to practice real-world responsibility.
A digital detox and mental reset
We live in a world of constant digital noise. For many students, the evening is often a time of blue light and social media doomscrolling. A school camp completely flips this script.
The simple act of being away from screens and sitting under the stars allows the nervous system to settle. The evening program offers a different kind of intensity, one that is focused on storytelling, laughter, and real-world connection.
This digital detox helps reduce anxiety and allows kids to reconnect with the real world. This sense of belonging to a physical group, rather than a digital one, can significantly boost the mental health of students.
An example itinerary of school camp evening activities
To understand how the benefits of school camp activities come to life, it helps to look at a typical evening. A usual evening starts with the dinner rush, usually between 5:30 PM and 6:30 PM. It’s a time for students to refuel with hearty food and relive their favourite moments from the day’s activities with friends.
Early evening
As the sun begins to dip, camp activities shift to free time, during which students can choose what to do. This hour-long window is like a quick breather that allows kids to unwind, have a warm shower, and get their gear organised for the next morning. It’s a lesson in personal responsibility, as they learn to manage their own time and space before the evening’s main activities begin.
The main evening activity
By around 7:30 PM, the energy starts to ramp back up. This is where the collective effervescence we mentioned earlier takes over. Whether it’s the neon lights of a camp disco, the combined wisdom of a trivia night , or a high-stakes game of ambush under the stars, this is the peak of social bonding.
Winding down
Once the big cheers have faded, it’s time to enter the wind-down activities. This might involve some reflection on the activities of the day, or a look ahead to what the group will do tomorrow. It’s a cosy, reflective period that signals to the brain that the day’s adventures are over.
Lights out
Finally, it’s time for lights out. Thanks to a full day of activity and a structured evening of connection, the camp settles into what is usually the most peaceful time of the day, giving everyone the rest they need to do it all again tomorrow!
From Sunrise to Starlight: The Complete Camp Experience
At the end of the day, school camps are a 24-hour learning adventure. While the school camp’s daytime activities deliver the big wow moments and physical challenges, its evening activities provide the heart, soul, and social connection.
By offering a full, structured program from breakfast to bedtime, we ensure that every student gets the most out of their time away. They don’t just learn how to climb a wall; they learn how to be a friend, how to be a leader, and how to be a confident, independent version of themselves, day or night!
At PGL Australia, we offer sunrise-to-starlight programs. Whether you are currently planning a first-time trip for nervous primary students or a high-stakes resilience retreat for secondary teens, we provide the expert instructors, the epic activities, and the supportive environment needed to make every hour count.
Your next unforgettable adventure is just a click away, and our team is ready to help you design a custom itinerary that hits every one of your educational goals.
Spaces for the upcoming season fill up incredibly fast, so contact us today to request a quote and ensure your students don’t miss out on the highlight of their school year!
A qualified teacher and former university lecturer, Steve has been our Guest Experience Manager at Campaspe Downs for many years. Steve’s work at Victoria University, setting up the “Iramoo Sustainability Centre”, focused on restoring and protecting the native grasslands of western Victoria, as well as advising schools how to set up indigenous gardens. He has lectured on science, indigenous education and outdoor education.
